The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-18

the committee were looked upon as ''ofii-
GERS" this dignity attaching even TO the
errand boy. You can easily imagine it
was very risky to question the authority of
one of them, especially when he came from
the committee in an official capacity.
The man who was deputed to call upon
Col. Ash was a determined fellow, and so
was the soldier upon whom he called. When
the messenger had presented his credentials
and conveyed the demand of the viglantes
for the Colonel'S presence, the latter brought
his piercing eyes to bear upon his visitor,
and raising himself to his full six feet of
height, said sternly: II recognize no Off
cial from a vigilance committee. Neither
do recognize the committee. Leave my
Office"
The messenger retorted with spice
which was equal to the army officers
haughtiness: "While you, Col Ash, repre-
sent the laws of the United States, l repre-
sent the gallows, and one, too, which ope-
rates with needless ceremony"
This reply was too much for the choleric
Colonel. He sprang upon the VigiIante, and
with one blow of his double-edged dagger
he split the messengers neck from the left
ear almost down to the point of the shoulder
The Nigilante dropped to the floor appar-
emily dead.
In a very few minutes the committee
were appraised of the fate of their emissary,
and in few minutes more Col Ash was
their prisoner and quietly escorted to the
Fort The defenses outside the head
quarters of the Vigilantes were modelled
alter Gen. Jacksons famous barricades at
New Orleans, sandbags, however, being sub
stituted III this case for cotton bales to the
height of the second story of the building.
Cannon commanded the approaches from
the north, east and south. The Fort was
on the west side of the street, in the
middle of the block, with a large
open space in front, and was patroled
by pickets, outside and inside, who
paced up and down under arms day and
night. The members of the committee fully
appreciated the gravity of an incident that
had made a United States army officer their
prisoner. To have seen such an official in
the hands of the vigilance committee,
charged with the murder of one of their
own members, marked a serious crisis in the
affairs Of the organization. Word was
brought to headquarters that the wounded
messenger was living but that there was no
hope OF his recovery. Most of the vigilanteS
came to the conclusion that no matter how
the injuries of the committees member
might terminate the life of the Colonel was
doomed. He had sympauhizers in the com
mittee and out of it who sincerely wished
that he had not defied the only strong ad-
ministration of justice in the city, but all
felt that, in order to preserve the authority
of the committee and to continue it the ter
ror of evil-doers, Col. Ash must hang
The friends of the Colonel were wild with
despair The courts could render no assist
ance. The time was short. There had, for
some time, been lying down toward the
Golden Gate, United States man-of-war,
a frigate well manned and equipped. As a
last resort Col. Ashs friends appealed to the
commander to demand the prisoner in the
name of the United States government, or
at least to delay his execution. The COM
mander complied with the request and
opened up a diplomatic correspondence
which determined in the threat of the COM
mander.
"If you hang Col Ash will RAE the
city, or as much of it as 1 can, to the
ground"
The committee replied: "Much as we re-
greet to come in conflict with the laws of
the United States, if our officer dies Col
Ash will hangn
Fortunately for all concerned, the officer
of the committee recovered, and may be
living yet, for all know, and Col. Ash, too
for he was discharged from custody.